Does flattery work? A comparison of 2 different cover letters for an international survey of orthopedic surgeons.

摘要: Background: Surveys are an important tool for gaining information about physicians’ beliefs, practice patterns and knowledge. However, the validity of surveys among physicians is often threatened by low response rates. We investigated whether rates to international survey could be increased using a more personalized cover letter. Methods: conducted 442 surgeon-members Orthopaedic Trauma Association on treatment femoral-neck fractures. used previous literature, key informants focus groups in developing self-administered 8-page questionnaire. Half participants received mail, half email invitation participate Internet. alternately allocated receive “standard” or “test” Results: found higher primary rate test letter (47%) than standard (30%) those who questionnaire mail. There was no difference between letters Internet group (22% v. 23%). Overall, there (34%) when both mail were combined, compared with (27%). Conclusions: Our surgeons our resulted significantly sent Researchers should consider postal increase Contexte : Les sondages sont un moyen de reunir l’information sur les croyances des medecins, tendances leur pratique et leurs connaissances. faibles taux reponse menacent souvent toutefois la validite chez medecins. Nous avons cherche determiner s’il serait possible d’augmenter sondage en utilisant une lettre d’accompagnement plus personnalisee. Methodes realise le traitement fractures du col femur aupres chirurgiens membres l’Orthopaedic Association. utilise publications, personnes-ressources cles groupes discussion pour creer huit pages autoadministre. La moitie ont recu par poste ete invites courrier electronique participer reparti alternance qu’ils recoivent « type » ou d’essai ». Resultats constate que produisait primaire eleve (47 %) (30 medecins qui poste. Il n’y avait aucune entre aux lettres types groupe (22 % c. 23 %). Dans l’ensemble, l’essai produit (34 lorsque l’on combine l’ont recue courriel comparativement (27 Conclusions nous envoyee dans cadre notre beaucoup envoye chercheurs devraient envisager joindre personnalisee afin reponse.